Enduring duo pleases new and old friends
INDIGO GIRLS: Lyrics address love, politics and life on the road.
Published: August 4, 2007
Last Modified: August 4, 2007 at 06:51 AM
The Indigo Girls rocked the house Thursday night in the first of two sold-out shows at the Bear Tooth Theatrepub.
Before the concert, fans were already buying and wearing Indigo Girls paraphernalia. A group of fans from Fairbanks who came down for the concerts admitted they also had tickets for the Indigo Girls' show in Fairbanks, today at the Blue Loon.
Thursday's concert was an event for lesbians -- yes, we are everywhere -- but really it was a concert for people who enjoy good rock-folk music. Testosterone was well-represented: Men in crisp shirts sang aloud to songs like they meant every word. And they were not too far from the woman in a bridal veil.
Local musician Melissa Mitchell opened, a wreath of flowers in her hair to match the dancers near the front of the stage. Her folk ballads echoed sentiment and stories of the Indigo Girls, and her deep, bluesy voice was almost enough to overcome the boisterous crowd.
There was hip-hop during the intermission because girls that shop at Hot Topic also may like the Indigo Girls. Rachel Hollander was the sign-language interpreter while the Indigo Girls sang, dancing slightly at times so people could see the rhythm as well as the words.
In T-shirts and jeans and sporting the same hairstyles they had when I started listening to their music in high school, Indigos Emily Saliers and Amy Ray captured the crowd with their first songs. They seldom paused with chitchat, just a "Thanks, y'all" after every song and while they switched guitars for a tuned instrument -- a mandolin, electric banjo or harmonica. It was a rock concert with just the two of them, no drums needed -- just a little clapping from the crowd.
Their positive, life-affirming lyrics covered love, road trips, politics, environment and missing home, often told in stories. Most popular word: "Free."
"It's all right if you hate me cause I'm gay," they sang, "I look at my lifeline stretch across my hand." And "No need for anger with intimate strangers. I've got nothing to hide."
Because they have been making music for 20 years, their classics brought many listeners home to a moment in the past, yet others hearing a song for the first time could still be empowered. The spotlight turned orange for "Power of Two," the chorus of which the crowd sang loudly when Sailers provided the opportunity.
Their commitment to the environment moved beyond the music: Alaska Community Action on Toxins had a table out front, and two representatives spoke about the organization during the encore.
The Indigo Girls made us applaud loud and long for our encore and closed the night with "Galileo" and the question "How long until my soul gets it right?" Judging by how happy the concertgoers were after the lights went up at 11 p.m., I'd say their souls are getting something right.
Daily news music reviewer Laura Carpenter can be reached at lcarpenter@gci.net.
